Lancaster ISD students continue to "Raise Their Roar" even after graduation!
For Mathews, it's a lifelong dream come true. She's wanted to be a veterinarian ever since she was a second-grader at Rosa Parks/Millbrook Elementary. She even recalls the exact moment the veterinarian bug bit her.
"One day, my classmates and I stumbled upon a snake slithering up the side of one of the portable classrooms on campus. Our campus was by a field, so I am sure that's where it came from," Mathews explained. "When the other kids saw the snake, they ran away, but I stopped and looked at it because I was fascinated. So I went back inside the classroom and drew a picture of the snake. When Animal Control arrived, they were able to identify the type of snake based on the patterns I drew and the colors I used."
Mathews says that one moment with the snake and her classmates helped her realize she liked animals. She also credits her Lancaster ISD teachers and STEM education for explaining the careers that work with animals. At that point in her educational career, she made up her mind to become a veterinarian.
"Her journey is such a remarkable story," said Dr. Antionette Mathews, Kennedy's mother and principal of Lancaster ISD's J.D. Hall Learning Center. "Everything started on that day in second grade. I'm incredibly proud of all of her hard work and everything she's done to get to this point. The acceptance letter from Tuskegee University made it all worth it."
During her time at Lancaster High School, Mathews was an accomplished member of the student body. In addition to being an active student, she graduated third in her class and was a member of the LHS National Honor Society. In addition, she was one of the students who built the district's popular STEM car and participated in the NASA Space Settlement Challenge.
Mathews was also a member of the Lancaster High School Greenspace Girls, the Mu Alpha Theta Math Honor Society, and was captain of the Spinettes Flag Corps.
She also attended Dallas College's Cedar Valley Campus and completed their Veterinary Technology program.
After graduating from Lancaster High School in 2018, Mathews was accepted into Prairie View A&M University, where her academic achievement continues. She is currently President of the Pre-Vet Club and is a member of the Collegiate Honor Society. She has also maintained a 3.5 GPA and remained on the Dean's List each semester. Mathews will return to PVAMU for her final semester in January and enter Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine in the Fall of 2022.
"I'm so excited to start learning at Tuskegee University. It was my first choice, and I can't wait to get started," said Mathews.
According to its website, Tuskegee University's College of Veterinary Medicine is the only veterinary medical professional program located on a historically black college or university campus.
Upon graduation from Tuskegee University, Mathews wants to open a "veterinary megacenter." She envisions it to be a shopping center for everything related to animals. Within the center there would be an animal hospital surrounded by an adoption center, a rehabilitation center, a laboratory, a boarding and daycare center, and an animal park, among other things.
"I want the facility to be a place where minorities, especially African Americans, can get experience in the veterinary field."
As a proud Lancaster alumna and a future Tuskegee graduate, Mathews’ advice for any student interested in becoming a veterinarian is to pay attention in all STEM education classes, get as much experience as possible, don't get discouraged, and never give up on your dreams.